A convey of trucks distribute food in Uganda. (Photo: Crispin Hughes/WFP )

The survivors have been counted, a nutritious diet has been prepared, and packages of food have dropped safely to the ground. Now, before a single meal can be delivered, you must determine where and how to buy food supplies.

Thanks to the goodwill of nations around the globe, the WFP relies entirely on donations to stock its food supplies. Its biggest donors are the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Australia, Norway, and Sweden.

Contributions come in many forms, including food, cash, and services. WFP's goal is simple: purchase food as quickly and cheaply as possible. In some cases, that means tapping existing supplies from its warehouses located around the world. In other cases, it means getting quick access to money.

"When we get really fast cash donations, we try to buy food as close to where the disaster is so we're not wasting time and money with transportation," says Maggie Carrington of the WFP. The WFP delivered 5.1 million tons of food by land, sea, and air in 2004 alone.

Purchasing food locally not only cuts down on transportation time and costs, it also fuels the local economy and honors local food traditions.

A fleet of 40 WFP freight ships is responsible for carrying food supplies from their point of origin to major ports around the world. From there, food is transferred onto trains, trucks, helicopters, and planes. At times, rugged land requires WFP staff to rely on more old-fashioned modes of transport.

A camel caravan in Somalia transports food to their final destination. (Photo: UNHCR/WFP )

"People have been known to use elephants, donkeys, and yaks," says Carrington. "Sometimes, if it's very mountainous, we transport food on mules to get up and down the hills."

While the local landscape can create transportation problems, land mines and rebel forces can pose an even greater threat to truck convoys trying to safely navigate their way to meal centers.

"There are rebels who will attack truck convoys, especially when their countries are at war," says Carrington. "Other times, they simply want to steal food."

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Missions 4 and 5: Locate and Dispatch and Food Run
Your challenge in Mission Four is to find and buy food for the best value. You'll meet Miles, Food Force's director of food purchasing—he's on hand to help you with the task. Complete the logistics puzzle and fill up Sheylan's food supply chain for the next 6 months.

In Mission Five, you're responsible for making sure that WFP trucks loaded with food arrive safely at the feeding center. The trip won't be easy, but Rachel Scott, the Food Force logistics officer, is there to help. Together with her you'll have to overcome challenges—from clearing land mines to rebuilding bridges and negotiationing with local rebel forces. Download Food Force.